The Suzuki Ertiga, Kia Pegas, and Renault Triber have posted disappointing results after being tested for crash safety by the Global New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) in partnership with the Automobile Association (AA) as part of the #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign.
These cars, which were tested in the same form as those sold in South Africa, failed to score higher than two out of five stars for adult safety and four out of five stars for child safety.
Global NCAP’s crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection as well as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for all new cars, whereas pedestrian protection and side-pole impact protection assessments are required for vehicles scoring the highest star ratings.
“We are disappointed to see global brands like Renault, Kia, and Maruti Suzuki offer such a low safety performance in markets like South Africa whilst achieving much higher levels of protection in many other global markets,” said Alejandro Furas, Global NCAP Secretary General.
“Don’t African consumers deserve the same level of safety?”
Sikkie Kajee, Chairman of the AA, also chimed in.
“We remain concerned at the low ratings received from manufacturers, but we are confident they will use these results to improve their safety moving forward,” said Kajee.
“Issues with double standards persist in relation to vehicles made for Africa but, again, we are assured these matters are being addressed and are confident that in the future we will see less discrepancies than what we currently do.”
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
During the tests, the India-made Ertiga’s structure was rated “borderline” unstable, its footwell area entirely unstable, and pedal displacement showed injury risks to the lower legs of the driver.
Head and neck protection for adult occupants, as well as chest protection for the passenger, were good, whereas chest protection for the driver was marginal.
In terms of safety features, the Ertiga provides two frontal airbags, ISOFIX child-seat anchorages, and a lap belt in the rear centre position which “explains the significant points loss in child occupant protection,” said the crash test report.
The report also noted that the passenger airbag cannot be disconnected if a rearward-facing Child Restraint System (CRS) is installed in the front seat.
Based on these findings, the Ertiga scored 1/5 stars for adult occupant safety and 2/5 stars for child occupant safety.
Kia Pegas
The structure of the Kia Pegas, built in China, was rated unstable.
Frontal impact showed good head and neck protection for both occupants, but marginal protection for the chest of both passengers.
Side impact protection furthermore revealed marginal protection to the chest, adequate protection of the head and abdomen, and good protection to the pelvis.
Child occupant protection fared better. Two dummies were installed rearward facing using the ISOFIX anchorages and saw full protection in frontal and side impact tests.
Safety devices in the Kia encompass two frontal airbags, three-point belts in all seating positions, and ISOFIX anchorages.
ESC is not available as standard, and side airbags are not available in any Pegas model.
The assessor stated that the ISOFIX anchorages did not meet Global NCAP’s labelling requirements, and that it’s not possible to disconnect the passenger airbag if a rearward-facing CRS is installed in the front seat.
Taking these results into account, Global NCAP awarded the Pegas 2/5 stars for adult occupant safety and 4/5 stars for child occupant safety.
Renault Triber
Another India-built vehicle, the Renault Triber’s structure was declared unstable following the frontal and side impact tests.
The MPV provided good protection for the driver’s and passenger’s head and neck but weak protection for the driver’s chest.
On the side impact, protection offered to the head, abdomen, and pelvis was good.
The Triber’s child occupant protection showed a lack of ISOFIX anchorages and a poor performance for the larger Q3 dummy, exposing the head in the forward crash and poor performance for the neck and chest.
However, protection of the smaller Q1.5 dummy was good in both tests.
The Renault provides two front airbags in all derivatives but no side airbags, and ESC is not fitted as standard.
The poor performance of the Q3 dummy, the lack of three-point restraints in all seating positions, and lack of a passenger airbag disconnection when using a rearward-facing CRS in that position gave the seven-seater an overall poor safety score.
When all was said and done, the Triber achieved 2/5 stars for adult occupant safety and 2/5 stars for child occupant safety.
Join the discussion